PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
F C O 171745Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL ..........
(HKD)
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TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 147 OF 17/2.
EQUIPMENT FOR TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
WHEN MR ROYLE MET UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF COUNCILS LAST OCTOBER
P.Y. TANG SUGGESTED WE MIGHT PROVIDE BRITISH EQUIPMENT FOR THE FOUR NEW INSTITUTES PROPOSED BY THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
2. MR ROYLE DISCUSSED THIS WITH MINISTER FOR OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT AND IT HAS NOW BEEN AGREED THAT HMG WILL CONTRIBUTE UP TO £100,000 PER INSTITUTE TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT WITHIN A TOTAL COST OF £400,000 OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS. FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, WE ALSO HOPE THAT BRITISH INDUSTRY, WHOM WE WOULD WISH TO CONSULT, MAY THEMSELVES IN ADDITION BE WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE. ON ASSUMPTION THAT DECISION IS MADE TO GO AHEAD WITH THE INSTITUTES ODA ARE READY TO DISCUSS DETAILS OF EQUIPMENT REQUIRED WITH APPROPRIATE
HONG KONG AUTHORITIES.
·
5. YOU WILL NO DOUBT WISH TO TAKE APPROPRIATE OPPORTUNITY TO INFORM UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THIS OFFER. THEY WILL APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST OCCASSION SINCE THE PERIOD OF POST-WAR REHABILITATION AND THAT OF THE INFLUX OF REFUGEES FROM CHINA THAT HMG HAVE GIVEN THIS KIND OF ASSISTANCE TO HONG KONG. IT MIGHT
ALSO BE HELPFUL TO YOU IN NEGOTIATIONS ON DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION.
IF, AS WE VERY MUCH HOPE, IT IS DECIDED TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WE THINK THAT IT WOULD DO MUCH TO COUNTER CRITICISM OF HONG KONG HERE (FOR EXAMPLE DURING RECENT HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE ON DEPENDENT TERRITORIES) IF THIS GRANT COULD BE ANNOUNCED IN REPLY TO INSPIRED PARLIAMENTARY
QUESTION.
5 GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.
DOUGLAS HOME
FILES
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MR WILFORD SIR L MONSON
COPIES TO:
MR KISCH, ODA, E 630 MR A TOMS, CRÉ 11, DTI
CONFIDENTIAL